Chapter 44

           ElizabethhadsettleditthatMr.DarcywouldbringhissistertovisithertheverydayafterherreachingPemberley;andwasconsequentlyresolvednottobeoutofsightoftheinnthewholeofthatmorning. Butherconclusionwasfalse;forontheverymorningaftertheirarrivalatLambton,thesevisitorscame. Theyhadbeenwalkingabouttheplacewithsomeoftheirnewfriends,andwerejustreturningtotheinntodressthemselvesfordiningwiththesamefamily,whenthesoundofacarriagedrewthemtoawindow,andtheysawagentlemanandaladyinacurricledrivingupthestreet. Elizabethimmediatelyrecognizingthelivery,guessedwhatitmeant,andimpartednosmalldegreeofhersurprisetoherrelationsbyacquaintingthemwiththehonourwhichsheexpected. Heruncleandauntwereallamazement; andtheembarrassmentofhermannerasshespoke,joinedtothecircumstanceitself,andmanyofthecircumstancesoftheprecedingday,openedtothemanewideaonthebusiness. Nothinghadeversuggesteditbefore,buttheyfeltthattherewasnootherwayofaccountingforsuchattentionsfromsuchaquarterthanbysupposingapartialityfortheirniece. Whilethesenewly-bornnotionswerepassingintheirheads,theperturbationofElizabeth’sfeelingswasateverymomentincreasing. Shewasquiteamazedatherowndiscomposure; butamongstothercausesofdisquiet,shedreadedlestthepartialityofthebrothershouldhavesaidtoomuchinherfavour; and,morethancommonlyanxioustoplease,shenaturallysuspectedthateverypowerofpleasingwouldfailher. 

           Sheretreatedfromthewindow,fearfulofbeingseen;andasshewalkedupanddowntheroom,endeavouringtocomposeherself,sawsuchlooksofinquiringsurpriseinheruncleandauntasmadeeverythingworse. 

           MissDarcyandherbrotherappeared,andthisformidableintroductiontookplace. WithastonishmentdidElizabethseethathernewacquaintancewasatleastasmuchembarrassedasherself.